Carl Jenkinson said it felt ‘brilliant’ to make his Arsenal comeback last night during the 2-0 win over Reading.
The right-back hadn’t played for the Gunners since May 2014, when he scored in a win over Norwich, and after a cruciate knee ligament problem this was his first senior appearance since January of this year.
The 24 year old, famed for his fitness and his engine, didn’t look like a man who’d been out for so long, although he admitted it was tough to spend so much time on the sidelines.
“It felt brilliant,” he told Arsenal Player. “It’s been a long time coming. Of course, I was on loan for a couple of years and that was really good for me.
“But coming back and having nine months out injured has been very tough. So days and nights like tonight make it all worthwhile.”
As for the game itself, he continued, “It was tough. They were a decent team but I think over the 90 minutes we were the better team for sure.
“We played some really nice stuff at times but they came here and they had a really good go, to be fair to them.”
With Mathieu Debuchy seemingly nowhere to be seen, it looks as if Jenkinson will serve as back-up for Hector Bellerin as the season goes on.
Nice one Jenko, great to have you back!
Solid back up for Bellerin. Seems to be a pretty infectious personality behind the scenes as well which never goes a miss.
But does it go a mister?
Renaissance of the British in the squad.
It was one of the sticks with which the media and pundits used to beat us with.
Someone observed yesterday that when Willock came on majority of the outfield were English.
The British media which made big headlines when we first fielded a team without any British players, ofcourse largely ignored this.
Wenger has been in his usual understated way has slowly but steadily improving the British players in the club – not just the first team.
Welcome back Carl, and well played yesterday — the truth is, you never left us…
He played really well. That moment when he PACED it down the line towards the end of the game. I’ve never seen him run that fast. Good work on the rehab Jenko.
Mattieu Dep45chy
Good to see Carl back in an Arsenal shirt and to complete the full 90 minutes. He is a solid back-up to Bellerin and can ease the burden on the latter now. One-way Taxi for Debuchy please!!
I wish his shot on goal hadn’t been saved by Al Habsi last night; I’m sure we’d have needed firemen to get him down from the roof of the emirates!
Jenko and Gibbs are not only back-ups, but have something different to offer, which is crucial for our success this season in light of Boro and Burnley. We need a good Plan B when our awesome Plan A don’t work. Gibbs can offset the relatively slower Monreal, with a bigger desire to go forward, sometimes as far as the by-line. This might help stretch compact defences and open us spaces. Jenko is not as fast as Bellerin, but then again who is? What Jenko does offer though is a wicked cross from the right that, more often than not, can… Read more »
Being a gooner himself you just know he will not hesitate to take a free kick to the balls for us.
Bet he slept well in his arsenal pyjamas and duvet set after last night’s game
I have your Debuchy. If you want his safe return leave Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi 3 degrees North of Highbury corner. You have 3 hours.
you can keep him
With Xhaka now installed at the back, Jenkinson could really shine when he gets his chance in the first team. Thought he played extremely well last night. Got stuck in with everything.
I meant Mustafi, long drive home last night lol
banter
Great to see Jenks back. May he stay fit and contribute this season. A great guy!
Great to see corporal Jenkinson back, a real fan actually living out all our boyhood dreams!
Rate him highly. He just need to work on his crosses.
I watched the game without having read any pre-stuff. Just from kick off… kept wondering who’s that at RB??
No… it can’t be .. it’s fucking jenkinson…! I feel 2 years younger!!!
You get the impression he’d be right in the thick of the Tuesday Club if this were 25 years ago.
He covered that right side so well it was like a total eclipse
Having Jenkinson is very refreshing. His willingness to get forward and ping in crosses hasn’t been diminished
He is Gooner. Period!